Dreadnaught Track Teams Take on Chelsea Bulldogs in 'Wild Ride' Matchup

Submitted by Barbara Read

The Dexter men’s and women’s track team seniors were recognized individually and honored for their hard work and commitment before the meet began on Thursday.

From the announcer’s booth, Coach Tom Barbieri reminded both teams to be courteous and show good sportsmanship, and they did. The drama was all on the track and in the field during a fiercely competitive meet. In a roaring finish for the final event of the evening, Noah Gary beat the sophomore pole vaulting record for the second time in three weeks to the cheers of both Dexter and Chelsea fans. Noah vaulted over a 15-foot bar beating his best 2011 season height by 3 feet.

"We are very happy to be working with such a dedicated group of athletes. Everyone is working very hard and we are seeing tremendous progress," pole vault coach Geoff Gerstner said. "We are especially pleased with the support and respect that the athletes give each other and us."

Run highlights:

• Noah Gary placed second in the 100-meter dash at 11.54. He was followed closely by Aaron Paton (11.91) and Andrew Schwartz (12.03).
• Darion Mayrand (13.03), Dana Tessmer (13.62), and Jessica Hopkins (14.35) took third through fifth places in the women’s 100-meter dash.
• Aaron Paton (25.17), Andrew Schwartz (25.29), and Austin Elliott (26.23) had a close finish in the 200-meter dash, while Andrea Scheffler and Dana Tessmer finished the 200 in 29.76 and 29.85. 
• In the men’s 400-meter dash, Austin Pallo beat his previous time by 2 seconds to come in fifth at 57.62, and Erik Leon finished at 63.36.
• The Dexter women’s team earned second, Maddie Kurcz (64.36), third, Charlotte Read (67.97), fourth, Margaret Bussineau (71.24), fifth, Meredith Burke (72.03), and sixth places, Krista Schaefer (73.85).
• Brad Carruthers (2:20.09) and Geoffrey Borchhardt (2:20.48) competed in the men’s 800-meter run, while Alex Ammann (2:41.17) and Tara Stetler (2:49.59) ran in the women’s race.
• Junior Joe Wedorf finished the 1600-meter run with a time of 4:46.80, and senior Jasmine Kipke led the Dexter women at 5:27.11, and was followed closely by teammates Emily Pap (5:28.33) and Katie Adler (5:37.98) in the 1600.
• Matt Greve (10:12.93), Taylor Neely (10:13.59), and Blake Loudermilk (10:13.88) shut out the Bulldogs by sweeping first, second and third places in the 3200-meter run.
• Missing only the first place spot, the women’s team also swept the 3200-meter run by taking second through eighth places. In the lead were Rylee Hanson (12:42.51) and Elise Dombkowski (12:44.83).

Hurdles:

• Luke Hayter earned second place in both the 110 and the 330-meter hurdles (17:82, 44.60), while teammate Casey Hanson finished third in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 18.73.
• Tracy Meisner ran the 100-meter hurdles in 18.45, and teammate Megan Cansfield finished in 18.71 to take third and fourth places. 
• Megan Cansfield (49.01) came in first for the 300-meter hurdles and was followed by Tracy Meisner (53.33) and Emily Green (56.00).

Relays:

• Dexter scored second place for the men’s and women’s 4x100 meter, 4x200 meter, and 4x800 meter relays, and the women’s 4x400 meter relay. In the 4x400, the men’s team came in first place with a time of 2:56.31.

Field Events:

• In the 12 pound shot put, senior Austin Elliot threw a new record at 32 feet, 4 inches, beating his previous record by 2 feet. Anthony Mezzanatto also threw nearly two feet farther to a distance of 28’1.75.
• Andrew Dumont threw the discus 86’2.5, while Sarah Vontom and Kate Rodgers threw 65’6 and 63’7, respectively.
• Noah Gary (5’8) and Sarah Stone (4’10) earned first place for the high jump.
• Noah Gary also won the men’s pole vault at 15’0. Ryan Scharrar tied his season high at 12’6, and Casey Hanson (11’6) also placed.
• Mixing it up in the pole vault, Nicole Ferguson took first place (11’6), while Claire Tewksbury and Micaela Conter (both 11’6) tied for second place.
• Michelle Klein (14’9.5) and Aaron Paton (17’8) came in second place for the women’s and men’s long jump. Taking the third places were Kamie Powell (14’3) and Nathan Gary (17’6).

On Saturday, athletes will compete in the River Rat Invitational at Huron High School. The meet starts at 9:30 a.m. For athletes wishing to compete at regionals, this meet will be their last chance to qualify.